The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-01
THOMAS JEFFERSoN's INGENU-


Two illustrated articles on Monticello,
the home of Jefferson, are given in the
September Century. The fret is by J
G. Nicolay, the second by Frank r.
Stockton. We quote from the latter: II
think it is not generally known with
what pleasure and zeal Jefferson brought
his mind to bear, not only upon the de-
velopment of his somewhat grand ideas
in regard to home, but upon the most
minute and peculiar contrivances for
convenience and sdornment. He drew
plans and made estimates for nearly
everything that was built or constructed
on his place. He calculated the number
of bricks to be used in every part of his
buildings, and his family now possess
deliberately drawn plans of such hits of
household furnishing as curtain val
ences' and the like. Many of his ideas
in regard to building and furnishing he
brought with him from France; but more
OF them had their origin in his brain.
There were no bedsteads in his house.
but in every chamber there was an alcove
in the wall in which wooden frame
work was built which supported the bed.
His own sleeping arrangements during
the lifetime of his wife were of very
peculiar nature. In the partition be-
tween the two cham bers was an archway
and in this archway was the double bed;
one chamber was Mr.. Jefferson's room,
and the other was his wifes dressing
room; when he arose in the morning he
got out of bed into his own room and
Mrs. Jefferson got out into her room.
After his wife's death her room became
his study, and the partition wall between
it and the library being taken down, the
whole was thrown into the present large
apartment. Over the archway in which
the bed is placed is long closet reached
by step ladder placed in another closet
at the foot OF the bed. In this we're
stored in summer the winter clothes of
the family, and in winter their summer
habilaments. At the other side of the
arch there is small door, SO that persons
going from one room to the other had no
need to Chamber over the bed.
"In the smaller chamber when it be-
came his study, stood Mr.. Jefferson's
writing chair which was made to suit his
peculiar needs; the chair itself was high
backed, well-rounded and cushioned,
and in front of it extended a cushioned
platform, on which Mr.. Jefferson found
it very pleasant to stretch his legs, being
sometimes troubled with swellings Of the
smaller veins of these limbs. The writ
ing table was so made that it could be
drawn up over this platform, legs and all
and pushed down when it was not in
use. The top of this table turned on a
pivot; on one side Of it were his writing
materials; and on the other was the little
apparatus by which he made copies of
ali his letters. By his side was another
revolving table, on which his books of
reference lay, or we're held open at prop
er angles Near him also stood pair of
large globes; and if he wished to study
anything outside of this world, he had in
the room two large telescopes mounted
on brass tripods. Convenient also were
his violins, one Cremona, and the other
bass-viol saved from the Shadwell fire.
Besides the book-shelves and the some
what simple furniture of the library,
there were a number of oddly contrived
little closets, in which were stored his
multitudinous manuscripts. There is a
writing-table now in the possession of
the family, which was frequently used
by Mr.. Jefferson, and which is very in
geniously contrived. Two of its four
legs are hollow, and in these run rods
resting upon springs by which the table
can be easily elevated, the other two legs
being also extendible, but in different
way. When Mr., Jefferson was tired Of
writing in sitting position, he could
stand up and raise this table to the
desired height. When he wished to use
it as reading stand, the top could be
inclined at any angle, and a strip of
brass was brought into use to keep the
books and papers from sliding off.
Opening from the library was large
room inclosed with glass, which was in
tended for conservatory, but was used
by Mr.. Jefferson as his work room.
There he had work bench with all sorts
of carpenters tools, with which he con.
structed a great many of the small con-
veniences he invented"